Ultrasonic flaw classification and sizing

Flaw classification (determination of the flaw type) and flaw sizing (prediction of the flaw shape, orientation and sizing parameters) are very important issues in ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of materials. In this work, new techniques for both classification and sizing are described;In the area of flaw classification, a methodology is developed which can solve classification problems in weldments using probabilistic neural networks. In the area of flaw sizing, four new approaches are presented including (1) the determination of distance-gain-size (DGS) curves and frequency response curves for flat-bottom holes based on a theoretical ultrasonic scattering model, (2) a time-of-flight equivalent (TOFE) sizing method for relatively large (\u3e1 mm) flaws in materials, (3) an amplitude-based equivalent (ABE) sizing method and (4) a first moment (FM) sizing method. Both the third and fourth methods are shown to be new viable techniques for sizing relatively small (\u3c1 mm) flaws in materials

An Enhanced Fuselage Ultrasound Inspection Approach for ISHM Purposes

This effort constitutes a systems engineering approach in which the materials science, ultrasound structural health monitoring, flight and maintenance operations, and relevant aeronautical policies and programs are involved to explore the evolution and characterization of structural cracks in aircraft fuselage structures in which the loads are varying. During flight, an aircraft fuselage skin and structure are subjected to varied cyclic loads, which can cause embedded cracks and other damage features to change their characteristics due to loading effects. The current research is based in the application of finite element modeling techniques using COMSOL and PZFLEX software to characterize the behavior of a crack under static loads as well as experimental techniques to observe the behavior of cracks under different static loads, with the goal of understanding the interaction of ultrasonic energy with opening-closing crack features. Specimen testing under tensile loads were considered, where crack detection and crack characterization were studied for bonded piezoelectric sensing and guided ultrasonic waves useful in structural health monitoring applications. The results suggest that crack detection and crack sizing accuracy can be impacted by load-induced, crack opening-closure effects, where linear elastic loading of the structure resulted in linear changes in the ultrasonic signal response